Bring paper and pencil or laptop (laptop battery should be fully charged). If we’re having a beautiful spring day this event will be held in a pavilion. If the weather doesn’t allow, the event will take place indoors. Please dress accordingly. Bring a sack lunch. Lemonade and iced tea and an afternoon snack will be provided.Go to SCBWI International calendar for events throughout the US and around the world.
November 2011
The 2011 Publication Celebration on Nov. 12 was both entertaining and inspiring. As always our honorees showed their passion for writing and illustrating and expressed themselves not only as professional individuals, but as professional individuals who have NOT lost the sense of who they are, where they came from, how hard they've worked and how hard they push themselves to continue working on their paths.
The following is a list of our 2011 honorees and their published works. ISBNs are included for your convenience.
LeeAnn Blankenship--2011 Article in Cricket – “To Speak the Truth”
Sophie Cayless--May 2011 Craft Article in Highlights Magazine
Cinda Williams Chima--The Gray Wolf Throne, Hyperion (August 2011), 978-142311825-1
Jean Daigneau--2011 Article in Children's Writers and Illustrators Market – “Supplement Your Writing Income - Know your options”
Jeannine Garsee--2011 Essay "Fearless" published in Dear Bully: Seventy Authors tell their Stories, Harper Teen, 978-0062060983
Colleen Kessler--Mitchell Lane: A Project Guide to Forces and Motion - 978-1584159650, A Project Guide to Electricity and Magnetism - 978-1584159667, A Project Guide to Sound - 978-1584159704, A Project Guide to Light and Optics - 978-1584159698
Pamela Spremulli--Illustrator for Woof, PublishingWorks (March 2011) 978-1-935557-77-7
Tricia Springstubb--Mo Wren, Lost and Found, Balzer & Bray (August 2011) 978-0061990397
December 2011
No meeting – Happy Writing and Illustrating!
January 21--Critique meet with picture book author/illustrator Laurie Knowlton (www.laurieknowlton.com). We will meet from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Barnes & Noble in Fairlawn. This event is free and open to the public but RSVP is required (contact Regional Advisor Victoria Selvaggio at vselvaggio@windstream.net).
January 2012
February 2012
February 18--Speaker/Workshop Event with Kathiann M. Kowalski --"NOT 'Just the Facts, Ma'am': Writing and Marketing Nonfiction for Today's Youth"
Time: 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ***Program begins at 10 a.m.***
Location: Holiday Inn Cleveland - South, 6001 Rockside Road, Independence, Ohio 44131
Cost: SCBWI Member $32.00 , Non-Member $42.00
SPACE IS LIMITED for this event. Registrations will be processed on a first come, first received basis. Northern Ohio SCBWI is not responsible for non-received items. Registration begins on January 23, 2012 and ends February 17, 2012. Same-day registration available to SCBWI members. (Arrive 15 minutes early to register. Cash or check only.) No refunds after February 3, 2012. To register, go to http://www.regonline.com/kowalski.
SPEAKER: Kathiann M. Kowalski will present “NOT ‘Just the Facts, Ma’am’: Writing and Marketing Nonfiction for Today’s Youth.” The workshop will address a range of issues relating to nonfiction writing, such as finding a fresh slant; conducting research and expert interviews; making complex material accessible to children; pitching stories; working with editors; and more. Writers at all levels of expertise are encouraged to attend, and participants should bring writing materials for program activities.
BIOGRAPHY: Kathiann M. Kowalski is an experienced journalist who writes on a wide range of topics. To date, Kathi has written 22 books and over 550 articles and stories.
Kathi obtained her Bachelor's degree in political science from Hofstra University. Her law degree is from Harvard Law School, where Kathi served on the Harvard Law Review. In addition to writing, Kathi has spent 15 years practicing law. She has spoken at professional conferences and authored more than a dozen scholarly articles and papers. Kathi was also a 2008 Science Journalism Fellow in the Biomedical Hands-On Lab program at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Massachusetts.
Kathi's writing has won multiple awards and honors. Attack of the Superbugs: The Crisis of Drug-Resistant Disease (Enslow, 2005) was included by the National Science Teachers Association and the Children's Book Council on their list of Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 for 2006. The Everything Kids' Nature Book (Adams Media, 2000) won an ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Honor in the Non-Fiction, Environment and Ecology category. Order in the Court: A Look at the Judicial Branch (Lerner, 2004) and Hazardous Waste Sites (Lerner, 1996) won awards from The Society of School Librarians International. Teen Rights: At Home, At School, Online (Enslow, 2000) and Global Warming (Marshall Cavendish, 2004) were listed by The Pennsylvania School Librarians Association (PSLA) on its YA Top Forty Nonfiction Titles lists.
March 2012
Beginning March 10--NEW! WRITING 4 CHILDREN: A 5-class critique session on basic fiction structure with Regional Advisor Emeritus Laurie Lazarro Knowlton. Register now at http://www.regonline.com/writing4children.Registration deadline March 9. If this session is full, please sign up for the waiting list. If there is enough interest, a second time slot will open up for this course, during the same time period.
CLASS DESCRIPTION: Do you think in stories? Do you have a love for children's literature? THIS CLASS IS FOR YOU! We will study basic fiction structure. We will write, read, critique and grow. We will get your manuscript ready to submit!
START DATE: First class begins on March 10, 2012 and meets for 5 weeks. This first initial class will determine where participants are in their writing. After this first initial class, remaining class dates will be determined by participants and Laurie as a group (it may or may not be every other Saturday depending on everyone's schedule - this will allow flexibility to those who have conflicting events on some Saturdays.) Participants will receive 5 written critiques.
CLASS SIZE: SPACE IS LIMITED TO 6 PARTICIPANTS with a waiting list for a possible future session later this year.
LOCATION: Barnes and Noble, 4015 Medina Road, Akron, OH 44333
TIME: 10:00am - 12:00pm
COST: $150 for SCBWI member, $170 for non-SCBWI member
Complete details, including Laurie's bio, PLUS additional critique services available which ARE NOT included in this price can be found at the registration link: http://www.regonline.com/writing4children.
March 24--The Artistry of Picture Books with Christopher Canyon (www.jeanetteandchristophercanyon.com)
NOTE: This event has been canceled. However, we look forward to having Christopher join us as a presenter at our annual conference in September!
CONTENT: With nearly 20 years experience, Christopher Canyon, presents a lively program, complete with slideshow of his art and journal excerpts. He’ll discuss the ins and outs of his success in the ever-changing picture book market, introduce the emerging world of e-picture books and picture book apps, share insights on visual and written composition, discuss how creative journaling can help spark ideas, and show ways to communicate artfully with others—whether through words or pictures.
TIME: 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.
PLACE: Summit Art Space, 140 East Market Street, Akron OH 44308
http://www.akronareaarts.org/summit-artspace/about-summit-artspace/
COST: SCBWI Member $45.00; Non-Member $55.00
Note: Christopher Canyon will review/critique illustrator portfolios if time allows, bring your portfolio if interested and indicate on registration form that you are interested.
The program includes two breakout sessions:
- Illustrator’s breakout session will detail varying approaches, styles and media. Discuss taking sketches to finished art and what happens next.
Program is geared for all levels-beginner to professional. Participants will not need any supplies.
- Writer’s breakout session will include journaling topics and story starters. Network with other writers and join in an optional critique session. (Bring your work if interested.)
SPEAKER: Christopher Canyon is a unique presence in the world of children’s literature. His remarkable ability to reinvent his artistic approach for each book he creates is a true reflection of his devotion to the stories and books he illustrates. Whether he is illustrating fiction, nonfiction, poetry or songs his ever-changing styles create the perfect “visual voice” that bring his award-winning books to life for children of all ages. He is best known for his brilliantly adapted and illustrated books of beloved songs by the late singer/songwriter John Denver. Christopher received his formal art education at the Columbus College of Art & Design. It was there where he met his wife (and fellow children's book creator), Jeanette Canyon. When they aren't busily working in their home studio, the Canyons spend their time sharing their books and creative processes at schools and conferences throughout the country. They reside in historic German Village in Columbus, Ohio.
March 27--School-Author/Illustrator Visit Fair
TIME: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (table set-up begins at 3:30 p.m.)
LOCATION: Kenston Intermediate School, 17419 Snyder Road, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023
http://www.kenston.k12.oh.us/kis/index.html
FEE: $15.00 SCBWI member; $25 non-SCBWI member. Check only. NO cash or credit card.
REGISTRATION: Begins January 27, 2012. Ends March 20, 2012. Download a registration form (PDF).
The Northern Ohio SCBWI is sponsoring a School-Author/Illustrator Visit Fair for SCBWI P.A.L. authors/illustrators to meet and exchange school-visit information with building principals, librarians, literary specialists, county gifted-coordinators, and current PTO/PTA chairs from Northern Ohio public and private schools. There is no formal presentation.
To find out if you qualify for SCBWI P.A.L. membership, see http://www.nohscbwi.org/membership.html.
Registration fee includes:
* Reserved table and chair
* Table topper with registrant’s name and genre(s)
* Mailing List – over 80 school districts, plus PTO/PTA! To receive this list, you must participate completely in the event.
* Automatic entry to win a gently used copy of Terrific Connections with Authors, Illustrators, and Storytellers: Real Space and Virtual Links by Toni Buzzeo and Jane Kurtz. (New copy retails at $32.00.) http://www.tonibuzzeo.com/visitstc.html
* Refreshments
April 2012
April 21--Critique meet with young adult fiction author Mara Purnhagen (www.marapurnhagen.com). We will meet from 10:00 a.m. to noon. This event is free and open to the public but RSVP is required (contact Regional Advisor Victoria Selvaggio at vselvaggio@windstream.net).
Please note the new location for this event: Chagrin Falls Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, 100 East Orange Street, Chagrin Falls. We will meet in the lower-level meeting room from 10 a.m.-noon. Additional parking is located on the back side of the library and across the street in a parking lot.
ALL GENRES ARE WELCOMED! Join in an opportunity to receive support and editing suggestions from your peers to improve your manuscript or portfolio. Sometimes it's a small technical issue, a shift in point of view or that the story needs to start at a different place. Revisions and editorial comments are part of the publishing process.
We are pleased to have Mara as our Moderator! Mara Purnhagen is the author of the young adult novels Tagged(March 2010), Past Midnight (September 2010), One Hundred Candles (February 2011), and Beyond the Grave (August 2011), all published by Harlequin Teen, and two novellas, Raising the Dead (January 2011), and Haunting the Night (August 2011). Past Midnight has been nominated for Young Adult Library Association’s (YALSA) 2011 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers, the 2010 Cybil Award for best Fantasy/Science Fiction novel for young adults and the 2010 YABC Readers Choice Award. One Hundred Candles has been nominated for YALSA’s 2012 Reader’s Choice Awards. She was featured in the March/April 2010 issue of Writer’s Digest.
TO PARTICIPATE: You must RSVP Vicki Selvaggio, Regional Advisor, at veslvaggio@windstream.net by April 9th. Prepare to read up to 4 pages of your manuscript. You will be advised of how many copy sets to bring of your manuscript once Vicki has a final count. Further instructions will be emailed to you. I also encourage you to attend even if you do not want to read. You can learn about your writing while listening to others read their manuscripts while offering your own comments. We hope to see you there!
May 2012
May 19--The Many Structures of Picture Books with author/illustrator Laurie Knowlton (www.laurieknowlton.com). See Laurie's bio on our home page at http://nohscbwi.org.
TIME: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. BRING A LUNCH – snacks and refreshments will be provided
PLACE: Roots and Wings Ranch(Directions will be forwarded to you upon registration) 6589 Carsten Road, Medina, OH
COST: SCBWI Member--$100.00, Non-Member--$120.00
SPACE IS LIMITED to 20 participants for this event. Registrations will be processed on a first-come, first-received basis. Northern Ohio SCBWI is not responsible for non-received items. Registration begins April 2, 2012 and ends May 12, 2012. No refunds after April 20, 2012. To register, go to http://www.regonline.com/Structurepicturebooks.If You Give A Mouse A Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff The Napping House by Audrey Wood Today is Monday by Eric Carle Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See? by Bill Martin Jump Frog Jump! by Robert Kalan There Was A Librarian Who Chewed On A Word by Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton
June 2012
June 16--NO MEETING
July 2012
July 21--Critique meet with picture book author/illustrator Lindsay Ward (www.lindsayward.com). We will meet from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Barnes & Noble, 4015 Medina Rd., Akron. This event is free and open to the public but RSVP is required (contact Regional Advisor Victoria Selvaggio at vselvaggio@windstream.net).
Join in an opportunity to receive supportive and editing suggestions from your peers to improve your portfolio, illustrations or picture book manuscript. Sometimes it's a small technical issue, a shift in point of view or that the story needs to start at a different place. Revisions and editorial comments are part of the publishing process.
We are pleased to have Lindsay as our Moderator! Lindsay Ward is a cut paper and mixed media author/illustrator who received her BFA in Illustration from Syracuse University. She is the illustrator of The Yellow Butterfly by Mehrnaz S. Gill, A Garden for Pig by Kathryn Thurman, and the STAR Academy novels by Edward Kay. Lindsay's first author/illustrator project, Pelly and Mr. Harrison Visit the Moon, came out Spring 2010. Her newest book, When Blue Met Egg, published by Dial Books for Young Readers, was released February 2, 2012. You can visit her on the web at www.lindsaymward.com.
TO PARTICIPATE: You must RSVP Vicki Selvaggio, Regional Advisor, at veslvaggio@windstream.net by July 10th. Prepare to read up to 4 pages of your manuscript and/or share your illustrations. You will be advised of how many copy sets to bring of your manuscript once Vicki has a final count. And further instructions will be emailed to you. We also encourage you to attend even if you do not want to read your manuscript or show your illustrations. You can learn from the comments that are shared.
August 2012August 18--SCHMOOZE - Conference Tips: Make the Most out of your Conference Experience
Join us for a SCBWI Schmooze! Our 10th Annual September 2012 Conference is NEXT month! This meeting will provide "Conference Tips" on how to make the most of your conference experience. We will meet from 10 a.m. to noon at Barnes & Noble, 4015 Medina Rd., Akron.
Ask questions...Hear suggestions...Get excited!!!
This Conference marks our 10th Anniversary - it is an event you won't want to miss! Further questions? Direct them to Vicki Selvaggio, Regional Advisor, at vselvaggio@windstream.net.
September 2012
September 21-22--Annual Conference
Volunteer to help with the conference planning! Contact: Victoria Selvaggio, Regional Advisor, vselvaggio@windstream.net
October 2012
October 20--Critique meet with young adult fiction author Jeannine Garsee (www.jeanninegarsee.com). We will meet from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Barnes & Noble, 4015 Medina Rd., Akron. This event is free and open to the public but RSVP is required (contact Regional Advisor Victoria Selvaggio at vselvaggio@windstream.net).
Join in an opportunity to receive supportive and editing suggestions from your peers to improve your young adult manuscript. Sometimes it's a small technical issue, a shift in point of view or that the story needs to start at a different place. Revisions and editorial comments are part of the publishing process.
We are pleased to have Jeannine Garsee as our Moderator! Jeannine has been telling stories since before she could write. "I was addicted to the Sunday funnies," she says, "and my dad worked in a book-binding factory. He'd bring home a slew of paper every week, and I'd draw scenes on every page. Later, when I learned to write, I'd add the captions--and then the captions just grew longer and longer till I didn't have any room left for the pictures."
Jeannine, known as "Jen" to her friends, works as a psych nurse in a busy inner-city hospital. Born and raised in Ohio, she lives with her family in a southwest suburb of Cleveland. She is the author of Before, After, And Somebody in Between, published June 2007 from Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books, Say The Word, published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens March 17, 2009, 2011 Essay "Fearless" published in Dear Bully: Seventy Authors tell their Stories, Harper Teen, and The Unquiet From Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books to be released Winter 2012. You can view her website at www.jeanninegarsee.com
TO PARTICIPATE: You must RSVP Vicki Selvaggio, Regional Advisor, atvselvaggio@windstream.net by October 10th. Prepare to read up to 4 pages of your manuscript. You will be advised of how many copy sets to bring of your manuscript once Vicki has a final count. Further instructions will be emailed to you. We also encourage you to attend even if you do not want to read your manuscript. You can learn much from the comments that are shared.
November 2012
November 10--“Writing Children's Books for the Educational Market: A Primer" with Colleen Kessler
TIME: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
PLACE: Holiday Inn Cleveland - South, 6001 Rockside Road, Independence
COST: SCBWI Member--$38.00, Non-Member $48.00
SPACE IS LIMITED for this event. Registrations will be processed on a first-come, first-received basis. Northern Ohio SCBWI is not responsible for non-received items. Registration begins September 28, 2012 and ends November 4, 2012. No refunds after October 26, 2012. **Registration link coming soon.**
Colleen Kessler will present “Writing Children's Books for the Educational Market: A Primer." Learn to...
- Research educational publishers
- Create an introductory packet
- Approach editors and give them what they want
- Schedule projects & build a career as an educational freelance writer
During the workshop, participants will learn to analyze publishers' catalogs to assess what they are looking for, identify ways to approach them, and to see how their talents could fit into a publishers' existing niche. Participants will create a basic introductory packet and compile a list of publishers to contact with their packet. Finally, they will learn what to do when that first project assignment is made: how to schedule their time, understand publishers' specifications, and work in a way that gets them repeat assignments.
This workshop will have two platforms (lecture and hands-on) – first Colleen will present an overview, then we’ll analyze catalogs and build an intro packet together. Colleen's goal is for those individuals who are ready to jump into educational writing to leave this program with an introductory packet ready to send out. Please bring a current resume, cover letter, and list of publishing credits if they are ready--or for revision and/or to be critiqued.For those who are just beginning, bring any of the documents you have ready but note that it's not necessary. This event will help you get started.
Bring pencil and paper and laptop (laptop battery fully charged) for hands-on work as needed.
BIOGRAPHY: Colleen Kessler is passionate about kids, hands-on learning, science and nature, gifted education, teaching, and books, and she indulges those passions every day as a science and education writer, and home school mom. Whether she is in her office overlooking her backyard, a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat; taking a hike through the nearby meadows or woods; or trying out new experiments, activities, and projects for her books with her three kids, Colleen is learning all of the time.
She is always on the lookout for meaningful, engaging, and hands-on ideas to inspire a love of learning and the desire to "find out more" in kids of all ages. These ideas spark new ones, and the excitement goes on and on. She considers herself a lifelong learner and hopes to inspire others to see themselves that way too, beginning with her kids as she home schools her twice-exceptional son, highly gifted preschooler, and trouble-making toddler.
Colleen has written textbook chapters, teacher resources, lessons, experiments, games, leveled readers, and more for numerous educational publishers. She has a B.S. in elementary education, an M. Ed. in gifted education, and is the author of many books for teachers and kids includingReal-Life Science Mysteries, Hands-On Ecology, and Super Smart Science from Prufrock Press, and seven books in the A Project Guide series from Mitchell Lane. Her upcoming book from Prufrock Press, Free Resources for Elementary Teachers, will be released on April 1, 2012.
When Colleen is not writing, she can often be found speaking to kids and teachers or presenting at workshops, conferences, or schools about education, science, and writing. Or, you might find her out tagging migrating monarchs, setting off soda-pop geysers, swinging in the park with the kids, or blogging at www.raisinglifelonglearners.com. You can learn more about her career at www.colleen-kessler.com.
December 2012
No meeting – Happy Writing and Illustrating!
Save the Date! 2013 Chapter Events
Get ready for a big 2013! That's not a misprint - we are already planning next year. Vicki Selvaggio, Regional Advisor, and other midwestern chapters' RAs are getting the ball rolling for the first MIDWEST BLOWOUT CONFERENCE.
SAVE THE DATE: May 3-5, 2013; Fort Wayne, Indiana
Many more details to come throughout the year!
Other 2013 meetings are tentatively scheduled for January 19, February 16, March 16, April 20, May 18, July 20, August 17, September 20-21, October 19, and November 9. Watch this page for more information on upcoming events.
Would You like to become involved in helping to plan and facilitate meetings or events? Learn more about becoming a volunteer...
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Northern Ohio Society of
Children's Book Writers & Illustrators.
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